Coastal security beefed up, Mumbai cops to get help from central agencies'

Continuing with the norm which has been in place since the 26/11 terror attacks, the Mumbai police have beefed up the coastal security and will not allow boat parties this year too.

mumbaiUpdated: Dec 26, 2014 22:13 IST

Saurabh M Joshi and Manish K Pathak Hindustan Times

Continuing with the norm which has been in place since the 26/11 terror attacks, the Mumbai police have beefed up the coastal security and will not allow boat parties this year too.

Even as only seven of the 20 boats with Mumbai police’s port zone are in working condition, the coast guards will provide an outer cover in the deep seas, as the celebrations approach.

The police boats will patrol the sea till 12 nautical miles, which is under the jurisdiction of the Mumbai police, and the rest will be secured by central agencies such as the Coast Guards and the Navy.

“Apart from the coastal patrolling, we have a 24x7 security cover at the 73-odd landing points on the city coasts. We are also conducting coordination meetings with the committees, comprising the fishermen and local folks so extra vigil can be kept on the movement,” said Dhananjay Kulkarni, deputy commissioner of police, crime.

In the wake of recently foiled attempt of smuggling of 23 tonnes of red sanders, special emphasis will be laid on securing Darukhana in Mazgaon, which houses ship-breaking yards and from where the consignment worth around Rs 9 crore was loaded.